Rotary road-making machine.



1. A. PATTERSON.

ROTARY ROAD MAKING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.191s.

L fig'm; Patented Jan. 15,1918.

2'SHEETSSHEET 1.

YTNESSES INVENTOR ma ma,

11A. PATTERSON.

ROTARY ROAD MAKING MACHINE,

APPLICATION FILED JULY 3.191s.

Patented Jan. 1

2 SHEETS-SHEF.T 2-

masses.

it-Hr Y ROAD-MAKING: MACHINE.

Specification of Letters Patent. Patented Jan. 15, rate.

Application filedluly 3, 1915. Serial No. 37,941.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it remembered that 1, JAMES A. PAT- TnnsoN, a citizen of the UnitedStates, resldmg in the township of Sherman, in the county .of Clay and State of Kansas, have invented certain new and useful Improvements in Rotary Road-Making Machines, of which the following is a specification, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, which form a part hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in road-making machines in which a rotating shaft is provided with means for gathering and distributing'the earth .to the proper grade for the roadbed, and the objects of my improvements are: first, to provide a roadmaking machine which, while excavating the ditches at the sides ofthe road, will also loosen, pulverlze and distribute the earth at a proper gradient upon the roadbed; sec- 7 nd, toprovide a road-making machine comprising grade shovels secured to a revolving shaft operated by means forming a part of the machine or the operative portion thereof constructed as an attachment to a traction engine or other motive power; third, to afiord'facilities forthe proper adjustment of the wings independently of each other for the purposeof regulating the depth the shovels'shall penetrate the soil; fourth, to provide a road-making machine in which the shovels attached to rotating shafts gradiently move the earth toward the middle or to the opposite side of the roadbed, thus forming the desired contour thereof; fifth, to provide a road-making machine in which the wings may be operated separately or in conjunction and thus grade one sidev of the roadbed alone or both sides together and completing the road in one passage; sixth, toprovide a road-making machine which will reduce the unevenness of the roadbed by cutting down the raised portions and moving sufiicient soil ahead to fill the depressions, thus evening the surface to the desired contour in one passage of the machine over the roadbed.

Lattain these objects by means of the mechanism hereinafter described and illustrated in the Which,

Figure 1 is a plan view of my improved road machine; Figs. 2 and 3 are larged scale of the shovels or diggers employed; a

Fig. 4 is a longitudinal vermcal :w

. power,

accom an in drawin in p y g gs, shafts are journaled in the side sills 2 I frame of the -machine.

larged scale of one of the winding drums,-

with its associated pawl and ratchet;

Fig. 8 is a detailed section showing one of the improved universal joints which I em P y;

Fig. 9 is a transverse section on the line 88 of Fig. 8, looking in the direction of the arrow Fig. 10 is a fragmentary plan view showingpart of the driving mechanism;

Fig. 11 1s a view similar to Fig. 8, showing one of the universal joints with the parts reversely arranged; and,

Fig. 12 is a view similar to Fig. 3, showing a modified construction of shovel.

vReferring to the drawings in detail, my improved machine comprises a frame formed of longitudinal, spaced center sills l, and

side sills 2, connected at the rear by an end sill 3. At the front, the side sills converge toward each other and are united by a plate l. The machine is supported on maingroun d wheels 5, mounted near the rear of the machine on an axle 6, and preferably having wide treads, as shown. At the front of the machine isa pair of small guide wheels 7 mounted on an axle 9, pivoted at its center to a king bolt 12, passing through the plate 4. A toothed segment 11 is socured to the axle'9 and meshes with a pinion carried at the lower end of a steering shaft 10, having the usual hand wheel. Other suitable steering mechanism may, if desired, be employed, as that shown forms no part of the present invention.

The machine as shown is designed to be drawn by a traction engine or other suitable and in order to operate the shovels hereinafter described, rims 32 are secured to the ground wheels 5 and are engaged by sprocket chains 31, which take over sprocket wheels 30, secured to stub shafts 6 7. Thesg carry at their inner ends pinions 74. The

' I pinions 74: are arranged to mesh with other detailed views on an en pinions 55, which are rigidly secured to a. shaft'28, extending transversely across the lltigidly mow the of the d upon limit Wit ' sprocket wheels 26 and on the shaft 28, as clearly shown in Fig. 10.-

The sprocket wheels 26 and 27 are 'capabl e of. longitudinal movement on the shaft 28 so that the clutch members carried thereby can be shifted into and out of engagement with the corresponding clutch members can ried by the wheel 29, whereby the motion of- 28 can be transmitted to either or both shaft of the wheels 26 and 27, as desired. These wheels may be shifted by means of levers 53 and 54, connected with suitable operating mechanism (not shown).

The improved excavating or earth-moving device which I have designed consists of two sets or series of revolving shovels, as will now be described. By reference to Figs. 2 and 3, it will be seen that each of these shovels comprises a shank 56, secured to a hub 62, and her 57 for strengthening the same. To the ends of the shank 56 are secured the curved shovel members 58. As shown in Figs. 2 and 3, the shovels 58 are secured to the shanks 56 by means of bolts 61, working through slots 60 in the shank 56, the shovels preferably having folded-over portions 59, adapted to embrace the edges of the shank 56, so as to rigidly maintain the parts in position. By means of the sliding bolt and slot connection just described, it will be obvious that the shovels can be positioned at difi'erent distances from the hub 62, as desired.

The shovels just described are'mounted upon a pair of shafts 15, extending from each side of the machine, as clearly shown in Fig. 1. These shafts are preferably square and the hubs 62 are provided with square openings 63, arranged to fit over such shafts. A series of shovels is secured to each shaft 15, the shovels being spaced apart a suitable distance and the blades turned at such an angle that the earth is thrown inwardly toward the center of the machine. .Theshovels are setat progressively varying angles on the shaft so that the blades are arranged in a spiral series therearound. By adjusting the blades 58 on the shanks 56, as described, the series of shovels may bemade to present any desired contour so as to give to the road any shape or profile which may be necessary. -As shown, the end shovels are adjusted so as to be considerably longer than those nearer the center, and by this means a drain or gutter is formed at each side of the roadbed.

Each shaft 15 is connected at its inner end 7 to the outer, pnds of a central transverse shaft 19, suitably journaled in the frame 1. This connection y of a un versal seen that the shaft 15 is formed with a The casing is further provided with a cen-' tral aperture through which the shaft 15expreferably having a brace mem- "c0nnect1ons are-b neeaeve joint 17, the details of which are shown in" Referring to this figure, it will be carries an enlargement Fig. 8.,

51 on its end, which enlargement within a'socket or casing 47. v The casing is .ormed of two. members -'ha ving flanges 71 secur d together by means of bolts 52'.- The enlargement 51 is of rounded radial teeth or projections 72, and the, outside 'member'ofl the casing 47 similar series of pockets 46.

tends, and around the inside of this aperture is formed an annular groove or channel 73, in which works a similarly shaped provided with a pluralityis received rib formed on the enlargement 51. 'The opening in the casing 47 is preferably flaring and somewhat larger and is closed rounding the casing 47 by connection is established when the shovels than'the shaft 15, by means of a plate 48, Stir-- shaft 15 and held against themeans of a spring 50, the other end of which bears against a collar 49.

in the pockets 46 and thus estabenter the earth'and is maintained by, the

thrust of the earth against such shovels.

- Rigidly sprocket chain 24= meshes with this wheel secured to the shaft 19,- intern 1e diate its'ends, is a sprocket wheel 21, anda and with wheel 26, journaled on theshaft 28. When Wheel 26 is'clutched to wheel 29, is evident'that the.

as above described, it shaft 19 will be driven caused to operate.

At the rear of the shafts 15 and their as- .and the shovels socia'ted shovels, I provide a second pair of shafts 16, arranged substantially parallel to the shafts 15, but much shorter than such shafts. The shafts 16 are provided with a series of shovelsfin all respects similar to those described in connection with the shafts 15, except that t ey are reversely arranged. That is to say, While the shovels of shafts 15 are so shaped as to throw the earth inwardly toward the center of the machine,

the shovels of shaft 16 are so set as to throw the dirt outwardly from the center of the machine. Each of at its inner end with the outer end of'a seethe shafts 16 is connected 0nd transverse shaft 20, journaled in the frame 1, parallel with the shaft 19. These 18, identical with those'described in connecy means of universal joints tion with shafts 15 except that they are re- 13;)

masses versed, as shown in Fig. In this figure, corresponding parts are designatedtby the same reference numerals as in Fig.8. In

1'sama a th sh f '2 intermediates ggdgsisa procket wheel 22, around which operation, the two parts of the joints are forced; into coiiperative relation'by means of" the inward thrust generated by the engagemelted the shovels withthe earth.

pissed-a sprocket chain 25, engaging the sproliet wheel 27, journaled' on the shaft 28. 'Wlien the sprocket wheel 27 is clutched to the wheel 29,-as. above described, it is obvious that theshaft 20. and' the associated shafts 16 will be rotated.

In order to guide the material to one side,

-' or the other of the roadbed, as required, I

provide a scraper 68, mounted on a vertical.

v shaft 30 and having an operating lever 65, 2d

v v notched rack 66, "whereby desired. adjusted. position.

secured. thereto, such. lever engaging' it is held in any The dri g' mechanism, including the sprocket wheels 26, 27, '21, and 22, and their associated parts, are incl'osedwithin a housing 23, as shown.

and lfiand their associated shovels, 1 pro The outer ends of'the shafts. and 16 are supported bymeans'of suitable braces 13 and '14, pivoted to the ends of the axle 6. In order to raise and lower the shafts 15.

vide control ling cables 38 and 39. These cables pass around guide pulleys 34, 35, 36,

and 37,.catried y laterally extendingarms: 33,- s'ecuredto t e'fram'e'members l and 2',

and are-attached at their free ends to the braces 13 and 14a- At their other ends, these cable s arewound 'upon drums lO, which.

,' drums are providedwith operatinghandles 42, and. pawl'. and ratchetmechanism 43 44, by means of which the tension in the cables is maintained." The drums 40 are i journaled insuitable standards 41, carried by-the frame 2;

- pairs, a s shown in Figs. 2-and 3, I may con- Instead of forming the shovels 58 in structthem asv illustrated in Fig. 12, in

which but a single shovel is employed, such shovel being carried by an-arm 79,-secured to the hub 62.

' ile I have described my road/machine as adapted to be drawn by a traction englue "and the shovels driven through theound wheels-5,1 also contemplate. pro-- pelling the machine under its own power.

' ,Thi'scah be readily accomplished by mountshown) and drive shaft of 29. To this end, the wheel 29 .would be formed with gear upon the machine a suitable engine .(not operatively connecting the such engine with the wheel teeth, as shown in the drawings, so. as to "mesh witha gear wheel driven by' the engine, With thisv arrange- *ment, the machine would be' propelled by meansof the chains 31, driving the ground wheels-5, as will be readily understood.

In operation, as the machine moves along, the first 01' main series of shovels dig up the earth and work it toward the center of I theroadway, excavating the side drains or hollows or'depress1ons; The second or auxihary ser1es of shovels serve to level down the ridge ofqearth thrown up inthe' center by the main shovels, and to flatten the crown gutters at the" san e'time, and filling in all.

of the road, so as to fit it for travel. It will thus be seen that a complete and finished road surface, including gutters, is formed by a single passage of nay-improved Inaif chine over the roadway.

What I claimis 1. In a road grader, a supporting frame,

wheels on which said frame is mounted, a shaft extending transversely of said frame, a series. of spirally arranged radial arms mounted on said shaft, said arms being of progressively 1ncreas1ng length from one central shaft journaled in said frame and extending transversely thereof, and-a pair of outer shafts extendingone on each side of said frame, shovels secured to said outer shafts, means for raising and lowering the outer' ends of'such shafts so as to bring said shovels into and out of contact with'the' earth, means for driving said central shaft, andmeans between said central shaft and outer shafts forestablishing a driving con vnectionf'rom the former to the latter-only when the shovels are moved into engagement with the earth. I

3. In a road grading-machine, a supporting frame, wheels on which said frame is .mounted, two transverse series of rotaryshovels carried bysaid frame, and means for driving saidv shovels, the two series of shovels being arranged one behind the other in overlapping relation,"the shovels of one series being shaped to throw the material toward the center-of the machine, and the shovels of the other series tending to throw the material away from the center.

JAMES A'PATTERSON. Witnesses: Y

B. I; Amman, *Pnmnnon Sm. 

